I had a couple of weeks off after each of my hemis and a week or so after RAI. I think in the current situation there are a lot of people about who have been on furlough for many weeks (me included). When I went back to work, albeit part time only as yet, I was nervous a bit like starting a new job or first day back at school but I soon got back into it. I think in terms of recovery from an operation and other treatments we are all different and so there is no "one fits all rule".
A lot will depend on what type you have, how extensive the surgery is, how your personal pain-threshold is and how physical the type of work you do is.
Time off can vary from a few days (I know somebody who had surgery without even telling her employer and went back to work a few days after - through to a couple of weeks for an uncomplicated hemithyroidectomy - or even many months for a complex neck dissection or post surgical infection.
If your work is physical you'll need longer than if you drive a laptop and sit at a desk all day.
I had two weeks off for my hemi, another two for completion, and for RAI I worked to the day before the tablet (because I got thyrogen injections) and was working again a couple of days out of hospital - but from home. I took a few naps to get through.
When I had to go hypo for a challenge scan, I stopped work the day I stopped my tablets. I was driving long distances to work and couldn't risk it on the roads. i worked from home patchily during withdrawal and after the scan.
Best wishes
Barbara
“Scars are tattoos with better stories.” – Anonymous
